Driver puts baby at risk

Woman's attitude left officer with no choice.

Woman's attitude left officer with no choice.

September 07, 2006

A few nights ago, as I sat on my front stoop, a South Bend police officer stopped to chat. We both watched as a young woman drove up in a really cool car. Her music was blasting, and the officer called over to her to turn down the sound. It could have ended there. But as she rode past, we were amazed to see a small girl standing unrestrained in the back seat. "I need to give her a warning," the officer said. So he got in his car, turned on his flashing lights, drove up behind her and had her pull over. If the driver had turned down her music and politely asked why she was being stopped, it would have ended there. Instead, she got out of her car with a huge attitude, challenged the police officer and said she didn't deserve a ticket. I don't always agree with the police. Sometimes, they don't treat us on the west side with respect. But in this case, the driver deserved the ticket she received. "She gave me no choice," the officer said later. When I spoke to the driver later, she complained that she didn't have the money to pay the traffic ticket. It wouldn't have cost her anything to treat the officer with a little respect. I felt a little sorry for her, but I was upset with her, too. It wasn't just the bad attitude. I had seen how she was endangering her child. I had just been to an accident where a child wasn't in a safety seat. On Aug. 12, 4-year-old Gisela Alfaro was riding with her uncle in his Ford Explorer. As they drove through the intersection on Dundee Street and Western Avenue, an eastbound car smashed into the left side of their SUV. Gisela, who was in the front passenger seat, fell out the window. The Explorer tipped on its side, trapping her underneath. I was covering the police beat that day. When I arrived at the scene, all I could see was a sea of people tipping the Explorer up. Soon, a woman began CPR. People of all ages and races were working together in the hope of saving her life. But the little girl was hurt too badly to survive. She died at the hospital. You never know what will happen in a traffic accident. But in this case, it seemed very clear: Gisela was not strapped in a child safety seat, and she died. It was inspiring to see all those people using their strength in an attempt to save her. But the simplest act -- taking the time to put a child into a proper seat and clicking the belt closed -- is what was really needed. That's the message I hope I passed along to the woman who was fuming about her ticket and everyone who transports young children. When an officer wants to warn you about safety seats, he is trying to save a life. He's not trying to ruin your day. Don't try to ruin his. Listen to May Lee Johnson live at 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays on WUBS, 89.7-FM.Staff writer May Lee Johnson: mjohnson@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6326 May Lee Johnson Tales from the West Side May Lee Johnson is a Tribune staff writer.